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If you can't measure it- you can't change it - a longitudinal study on improving quality of care in hospitals and health centers in rural Kenya

Marx, Michael and Nitschke, Christine and Nafula, Maureen and Nangami, Mabel and Brodowski, Marc and Marx, Irmgard and Prytherch, Helen and Kandie, Charles and Omogi, Irene and Paul-Fariborz, Friederike and Szecsenyi, Joachim. (2018) If you can't measure it- you can't change it - a longitudinal study on improving quality of care in hospitals and health centers in rural Kenya. BMC health services research, 18. p. 246.

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Abstract

The Kenyan Ministry of Health- Department of Standards and Regulations sought to operationalize the Kenya Quality Assurance Model for Health. To this end an integrated quality management system based on validated indicators derived from the Kenya Quality Model for Health (KQMH) was developed and adapted to the area of Reproductive and Maternal and Neonatal Health, implemented and analysed.; An integrated quality management (QM) approach was developed based on European Practice Assessment (EPA) modified to the Kenyan context. It relies on a multi-perspective, multifaceted and repeated indicator based assessment, covering the 6 World Health Organization (WHO) building blocks. The adaptation process made use of a ten step modified RAND/UCLA appropriateness Method. To measure the 303 structure, process, outcome indicators five data collection tools were developed: surveys for patients and staff, a self-assessment, facilitator assessment, a manager interview guide. The assessment process was supported by a specially developed software (VISOTOOL®) that allows detailed feedback to facility staff, benchmarking and facilitates improvement plans. A longitudinal study design was used with 10 facilities (6 hospitals; 4 Health centers) selected out of 36 applications. Data was summarized using means and standard deviations (SDs). Categorical data was presented as frequency counts and percentages.; A baseline assessment (T1) was carried out, a reassessment (T2) after 1.5 years. Results from the first and second assessment after a relatively short period of 1.5 years of improvement activities are striking, in particular in the domain 'Quality and Safety' (20.02%; p < 0.0001) with the dimensions: use of clinical guidelines (34,18%; p < 0.0336); Infection control (23,61%; p < 0.0001). Marked improvements were found in the domains 'Clinical Care' (10.08%; p = 0.0108), 'Management' (13.10%: p < 0.0001), 'Interface In/out-patients' (13.87%; p = 0.0246), and in total (14.64%; p < 0.0001). Exemplarily drilling down the domain 'clinical care' significant improvements were observed in the dimensions 'Antenatal care' (26.84%; p = 0.0059) and 'Survivors of gender-based violence' (11.20%; p = 0.0092). The least marked changes or even a -not significant- decline of some was found in the dimensions 'delivery' and 'postnatal care'.; This comprehensive quality improvement approach breathes life into the process of collecting data for indicators and creates ownership among users and providers of health services. It offers a reflection on the relevance of evidence-based quality improvement for health system strengthening and has the potential to lay a solid ground for further certification and accreditation.
Faculties and Departments:09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Department of Swiss Centre for International Health (SCIH) > Systems Strengthening and Health Promotion (Prytherch)
UniBasel Contributors:Prytherch, Helen
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:BioMed Central
ISSN:1472-6963
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
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Last Modified:24 Aug 2018 09:28
Deposited On:03 Jul 2018 11:11

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